Ahead of the 2024 EU elections, a broad coalition of civil society organisations led by Civil Society Europe and Social Platform have launched a campaign for better civic space and civil dialogue all over Europe. Today, the Civil Society for EU campaign has published its manifesto, outlining our key demands for a Civil Society Strategy and a Civil Dialogue agreement. 

Civil society plays a prominent role in addressing the multiple challenges our society faces. We protect and promote fundamental rights, provide crucial services that boost our resilience and inclusivity, and connect people – especially marginalised groups – with policy-makers.

We need an enabling space and dedicated tools and resources to do this, but the reality on the ground is that civil society actors are facing an ever-expanding list of challenges. 

The upcoming EU elections are a key opportunity to turn the tide of shrinking civic space and limited civil dialogue all over Europe, and ensure that civil society can become a permanent, empowered and engaged actor in future European governance and counterbalance the power of big business and other actors. 

For this reason, a coalition of civil society organisations, led by Social Platform and Civil Society Europe has launched the Civil Society for EU campaign, for strengthening civil dialogue and civic space across the EU through better recognition, involvement and resourcing of civil society. We’re calling on the EU institutions to take concrete steps to create an empowering environment for civil society during the next five years, starting from the development of a European Civil Society Strategy and of a Civil Dialogue Agreement. 

How can you contribute? 

It is crucial for all European civil society to stand together and speak with a one voice. We want to showcase the value that civil society brings to European democracy and societies, and come together to call for this value to be recognised, promoted and protected.

Interested in hearing more about this campaign? You can get in touch with the campaign coordinator Riccardo Rossella: riccardo.rossella@civilsocietyeurope.eu